Week 4: Nature Explored in Native American Literature

 Nature Explored in Native American Literature 

This week's literature works all share a common theme of nature. Yellow Woman by Leslie Silko,  The Night Chant from Navajo Ceremony, and The Conquest of Mexico are all works that highlight the deep spiritual connection Native American's have with nature.  

Yellow Woman By Leslie Silko depicts the story of a woman who is kidnapped by a man named Silva. The woman is taken deep into the mountains to his home, but the deeper the woman goes into the mountains, she begins to believe that Silva is a mountain spirit and has become the "yellow woman." 

The yellow woman is a legend of how women are taken away by the mountain spirit and go to live with him for a time. Then, after some time, the women reappear in their hometowns, and everyone accepts that she was taken by the mountain spirit.  

The relationship between the Yellow Woman and silva is deep, as she believes she loves him. When he leaves her for the day, she struggles to stay with him or leave to return to her "real" life. The story of the Yellow Woman references the Navajo belief in deities that can be found in nature. Moreover, the woman's struggle to either return home or stay with the mountain spirit shows how there is a struggle to maintain the spiritual connection to nature or live more in the natural world. She would be responsible for raising children and caring for her family.  

The Night Chant is a beautiful Navajo healing prayer that is repeated at healing ceremonies. According to the Norton Anthology of the World, The Night Chant is a prayer repeated all night long at a gathering with friends and family and is said to bring healing to various forms of illnesses. The Chant itself calls upon the spirit of Thunder to bring rain, and in the rain, to bring healing itself to the people who need restoration. There are clear references to how nature's cycles of rain and harvest bring prosperity and healing to the people in the Chant. Furthermore, the Chant includes prayers and offerings to the spirit for it to bring healing in return. The Navajo have a deep connection to nature in the form of religion. The way the Navajo connect to nature is how many connect to their faith and offer prayers and supplication. 

The Conquest of Mexico focuses on the Aztecs and their beliefs in Aztec Gods, similar to the Navajo gods. However, the elements of nature and spiritual connection to humanity are depicted in a more black and white or good vs. evil in this story. As the Spaniards arrive and take over, there are references to how their dogs are different, and unlike the wolves, you would see in nature, though there is an implication that the Spaniard's corrupt nature and lust for gold. While the Aztecs treat the Spaniards like gods, the Spaniards take over, and this only further shows how the Spaniards have no connection to nature or each other the way that the Aztec people do. 

Learning about other cultures helps students expand their worldviews and gives them access to more tools to understand others and the world around them better. 

Activity 

If possible, take students outside and break them out into small groups. Have them take a moment to observe their surroundings, ask them what they notice. Then, have them read The Night Chant; when they are finished, ask them what they were able to observe and what stood out to them about the Chant while reading it outdoors. 

Have your students watch this short video to learn a little more about the Navajo religious beliefs. 

Connecting with the Literature

Ask students how the Navajo beliefs are similar or different to their own personal faith and beliefs. Ask Students if they saw similarities in The Night Chant to prayers or rituals they practice in their own personal faiths. 

Pop Culture Connection

The Marvel movies have taken the world by storm, and the writers gave the ancient mythological God of thunder a very modern twist as he engages with other superheroes to save the planet. However, modern Chris Hemsworth portrays Thor, a prominent deity in Norse mythology and very popular among Scandinavians during the Viking age. 

Like Marvel's take on the ancient Norse deity Thor, the author of the Yellow Woman gives an ancient legend of a mountain spirit diety kidnapping women a modern twist. When Silva kidnaps the woman in the story, she starts to believe the legend is happening to her, and Silva is the mountain spirit kidnapping her in modern times.  

Activity

Have your student research a god of the Navajo beliefs and rewrite the legend in a  modern storyline. To give students ideas, you can find a list of Navajo deities Here. 

For information on the Navajo's spiritual beliefs, visit This suggested site. 

References:

Florentine Codex | AHA. (2021). Retrieved 21 July 2021, from https://www.historians.org/teaching-and-learning/teaching-resources-for-historians/teaching-and-learning-in-the-digital-age/the-history-of-the-americas/the-conquest-of-mexico/florentine-codex

McCoy, D. (2021). Thor - Norse Mythology for Smart People. Retrieved 21 July 2021, from https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/thor/

Navajo Gods and Goddesses | Navajo Code Talkers. (2014). Retrieved 21 July 2021, from https://navajocodetalkers.org/navajo-gods-and-goddesses/

Prayer of the Night Chant. (2021). Retrieved 21 July 2021, from http://indians.org/welker/nitechan.htm

Scribespark | Navajo & the Sacred. (2020). Retrieved 21 July 2021, from https://www.scribespark.com/religion/4-navajo.html

Silko, L. (1974). Yellow Woman. Retrieved 21 July 2021, from https://www.napavalley.edu/people/lrosichan/Documents/Yellow%20Woman%20by%20Leslie%20Marmon%20Silko.pdf

Walkin Beauty. (2018). Retrieved 21 July 2021, from https://youtu.be/ruYNl-emEic